Hailing from Simjung-2, a village near the epicentre of the Great quake in Barpak, Gorkha, Ranmaya Gurung had never hoped that she will survive the terrible disaster of April 25.
Hailing from Simjung-2, a village near the epicentre of the Great quake in Barpak, Gorkha, Ranmaya Gurung had never hoped that she will survive the terrible disaster on that fateful day of April 25.
Gurung was inside her house when the tremor flattened many houses in the village.
She was, however, fortunate enough as she managed to run out of her house unscathed just before her own collapsed on that day.
She said after making sure all her family members were okay, she did not wait for relief materials to arrive and started managing the supplies necessary for her and her family’s survival on her own.
Her seven-member family is currently residing under a makeshift shelter built nearby her demolished house.
“We cannot collect all the food stuffs from the debris anyhow we have got some millets”, Ranmaya said.
Similarly, local Buddhi Bahadur Gurung had also little hope of help reaching out to him and his family members during the difficult time. He said he is currently busy salvaging the materials from his damaged house.
“I am planning to rebuild my house after an engineer completes initial inspection in the area,” he said.
Meanwhile, another local Tek Bahadur Gurung said his family and many other people in his village are having a hard time living under the tents as strong winds threatens to blow them everytime, leaving them at the mercy of the elements.
“I am currently constructing a temporary shelter for my family to live in,” said Tek Bahadur.
Meanwhile, many school buildings in the area have also been reduced to rubble by the April 25 quake. Yam Bahadur Gurung, headmaster of Kalika Primary School, said the main building of the school has been razed to the ground. He said he doesn’t know when will the school become operational again as it is badly damaged. Six families are currently taking shelter on the premises of the school.
“The whole VDC was adversely affected by the quake” said VDC secretary Shekharnath Neupane, adding that there are no safer place to stay in areas like Patle, Banjhi, Simjung Pallo Khet and Mahabhir.
According to district officials, Rs900,000 have been allocated for relief efforts in quake-affected areas in Simjung. This budget will be spent under four major categories; drinking water, first-aid, food, health and sanitation, VDC Secretary Neupane said.
The Great quake of April 25 had destroyed 857 houses including 11 school buildings in Simjung.
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